The antenna, which blinks a blue light when it is in use, sits on the top right of the Pocket PC, just between the stylus and a Secure Digital slot for memory and peripheral expansion. Just bellow this on the front of the Axim X3i is a built-in microphone, which you use when taking voice memos. To the front left of the Secure Digital slot is the Pocket PC's infrared port, a mainstay of PDAs going back to the very beginning.

We were disappointed that the Axim X3i didn't come with Bluetooth wireless networking, which would, for instance, allow users to surf the Web and check email with a Bluetooth phone when a hot spot isn't handy. It seems that Dell was planning to include Wi-Fi with the device but decided against it. Just Recently, a Bluetooth version of the Axim X3i Pocket PC was approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The price and release date for these device haven't been made available.

In terms of multimedia, you can play MP3 and Windows Media files via Windows Media Player for Pocket PC. A basic speaker is on the back of the unit. You can also view pictures via a bundled image viewer.

Other applications come standard with Windows Mobile 2003, These include the Pocket editions of Outlook, Word, Excel, Internet Explorer, MSN Messenger, and the aforementioned Windows Media Player. An application called Switched Bar that isn't a part of Windows Mobile lets you view a list of all the applications currently running, so you can go from one to the other or shut them down.

Other than a lack of integrated Bluetooth, the Axim X3i models match up nicely, price and feature wise, to HP's current and far more extensive line-up, including the iPAQ 4000 series. It offers a lot for the price and should put pressure on the industry to drop prices like the original Axim's did before. It's a good choice for budget conscious consumers and businesses.